Team Canada’s first game win gets a major blow in the 4 Nations Face-Off. The tournament, which kicked off on February 12, is coming in with sad happenings. The Canadian team successfully won the game by 4-3 over Sweden. The result was in their favor, but a sudden turn of events led to a devastating situation for the team.

The update was shared by Chris Johnston on X, as he wrote, “Shea Theodore has been ruled out for the entire #4Nations tournament. Jon Cooper says, ‘it’s heartbreaking for the kid.'”

Shea Theodore, Team Canada’s defenceman, was ruled out for the remainder of the 4 Nations Face-Off after the game. What was the reason? In a video released on social media, Theodore got injured after getting hit by Sweden’s Adrian Kempe in the second round of the game. While moving towards the corner of the field, Theodore was pushed by Kempe, which led him to hit the right side of the body into the glass.

Feeling the pain, Theodore, after getting medical attention on the bench, was seen leaving the ice field to get further checkups. No injury update was given by anyone. Not even the coach said anything. It was later when their coach, Jon Cooper, came with his overview of the player’s performance in the game.

He said, “What a kid, and he only got to play six minutes. It’s heartbreaking for the kid. And he was the first one there at the door high-fiving everybody when we came off. It’s a tough one to swallow because you just know how much it means. I guess in hindsight he got to touch the ice and get some time in there. But for us, it was tough because you talk about the speed in that game, and we had to fight through the last 50 minutes with five defensemen. That’s a grind.”

With Theodore no longer eligible to play further in the NHL-hosted tournament, Philadelphia Flyers #6 Travis Sanheim is another defenseman on Team Canada’s roster who can fill out his position. In the current season, Sanheim’s performance is coming out with 27 points, including 6 goals and 21 assists in over 57 games played. But Theodore’s absence is coming into a big discussion by fans targeting his NHL team.

Fans in disbelief of Theodore’s removal

Shea Theodore’s discontinuation from the 4 Nations tournament has created quite an argument among fans. Coming with concerns, fans are questioning the player’s NHL team, the Vegas Golden Knights, playing a big role in their player’s injury. They think it’s a planned event.

For the 4 Nations tournament, all four teams were allowed to bring in a total of seven of their defensive players. Team Canada’s are now with six after Theodore’s rule-out. Taking this into account, a fan comments, “Who’s replacing as the 7th D ? Is Matheson in MTL still? Sanheim will be playing, I guess.” Names of Montreal Canadiens’ Mike Matheson and Philadelphia Flyers Travis Sanheim are coming up to fill the spot.

Furious with the decision, a fan called out Theodore’s NHL team, the Vegas Golden Knights, while displaying concern over the defenseman’s health. “Friggen Vegas. It’s always Vegas. Hope he’s okay.” It was last week when the Vegas team ruled out their veteran forward, Tanner Pearson, due to injury, and it’s now the second time in a week that this happened.

Not the injury, but a fan mentions Theodore’s contract with the Vegas team. Blaming the team, a fan comments, “7.43M cap relief incoming #VegasBorn Its all part of the plan, lol.” The Golden Knights and Shea Theodore have signed a 7-year contract extension with an AAV of $7.425 million. He is currently under a contract in Vegas through the 2031-32 season.

A comment was also made stating that Theodore’s injury is coming as an expected long-time reserve: “LTR and Rantanen to Vegas.” Mikko Rantanen’s mention was also made in the comment, with the fan suggesting his trade to the Vegas Golden Knights. 

For a fan, the comment stated Theodore’s rule-out was one of the dumbest decisions made by Team Canada. “It’s insanely dumb they can’t replace him & are forced to play with zero spare D.” Theodore’s replacement, while coming into account, states on the team’s future, with one spot remaining to bring in another defenseman. Is there any rule to do so? We all have to wait and see the next move of Team Canada for that.